Hi,
I thought the term “early music” referred to the tunes from around the 12th century with the Recorders, hurdy gurty, etc.
But, lately, I’ve heard people speak of it as the first music in
America…meaning the tweaking of the tunes they brought over
from Ireland.
Does anyone have more info. on this subject?
Lolly
I was taught that it refered to the baroque & before, in western music.
Hit the button early, let me finish my thought… It also is a relative term: early music could also refer to music early in development, like early colonial American music. This could be shortened down to early music in context; for example, “The early music of John Coltrane” could be taken as: music from early in John Coltrane’s career, or John Coltrane getting funky on a vihuela.
I would say early American music drew more influences from England, Scotland, France & Holland than Ireland. Although Ireland was in the mix, Ireland’s culture was looked down on when America was colonized.
ditto. the term usually refers to European music from medieval period through the baroque, though I suppose you could call early American music “early music” if it’s understood in the specific context of the development of music in America. sure, why not.
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/misc/whatis.htm
http://www.earlymusic.net/
The people I heard discussing this were from a Bluegrass band,
and they said they did “early” music too. They had a “fake” book
with them that had Irish and Bluegrass and Early music sections…
I thought it was very strange. I had never heard that term applied
here. I guess they are using “early” to mean “pre-bluegrass”!
Lolly
Maybe they meant the kind of music that wakes you up in the morning. Or is that “too early” music? 
Maybe early is PC talk for Old Time? 
Pre-bluegrass. Sounds good to me - before they gilded the lily.
Hmm, and I thought “early music” was the afternoon Karaoke at the pub before the trad session started.
But seriously, I think those people were probably talking about early American music. I’ve always thought of it as medieval and Renaissance music, or the musicians who perform modern interpretations of such music (e.g. Ensemble Galilei, Broceliande, Mediaeval Baebes).
O.K. Peter,
what is “Old Time” music then? I bet that is the proper word these
folks should have been using!
Lolly
Yep, Steve,
thats the term these guys should have used! Interesting article.
Thanks everyone.
Lolly
Something that is being played on my radio alarm clock at 5:30 Am
MarkB
Old Time is what I grew up with. Played in someone’s living room or on the porch in the summer. Tunes the old men learned from their kin that had been handed down here in the mountains.
Old tunes like “Down in the Willow Garden” (our version of Sally Gardens?), Soldier’s Joy, etc. Tunes brought over to the Appalachians and kept recognizably close to the European tunes of our ancestors. This was primarily because until around WWII no one ventured far from where they were born. Around here anyway. So those old tunes were kept. (the movie The Songcatcher is a good illustration of my area)
Also, again this is around here , tunes like Old Joe Clark, Sourwood Mountain, John Harding, Redwing, are considered Old Time.
You could certainly translate it to mean- before bluegrass. I guess I’m a purist, since I love the tunes of my childhood. Not a big fan of it’s stepchild, bluegrass. Too much reliance on technique and speed, not enough on “heart”.